American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Standards of Care for Autism
Two reports were released January 2010 in the American Academy of Pediatrics medical journal, Pediatrics. Both articles focused on gastrointestinal disorders in individuals with autism. The first report entitled Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Individuals With ASDs: A Consensus Report [Click here to read the PDF article or read the article online here] is a review of available medical literature surrounding autism and gastrointestinal symptoms from a panel of experts. These experts came to the following conclusions:
- Medical disorders, including gastrointestinal problems, occur commonly in individuals with ASDs, but because symptoms may be atypical these medical conditions may be undiagnosed.
- Individuals with ASDs whose families report gastrointestinal symptoms warrant a thorough gastrointestinal evaluation.
- The care of individuals who are non-verbal or have difficulties in communication or who display self-injurious or other problem behaviors present special challenges. Nevertheless, the approach to evaluation and diagnosis of possible underlying medical conditions, in particular gastrointestinal disorders, should be no different from the standards of care for persons without ASDs. (emphasis added)
- The communication impairments characteristic of ASDs may lead to unusual presentations of gastrointestinal disorders, including sleep disorders and problem behaviors.
- Management of co-occurring gastrointestinal problems in individuals with ASDs usually begins with the primary care provider and may eventually warrant multidisciplinary consultation.
- Anecdotal reports that restricted diets may ameliorate symptoms of ASDs in some children have not been supported or refuted in the scientific literature, but these data do not address the possibility that there exists a subgroup of individuals who may respond to such diets.
- Integrating behavioral and biomedical approaches can be advantageous in conceptualizing the role of pain as a setting event for problem behavior, facilitating diagnosis and addressing residual pain symptoms to enhance the quality of life.
The second report, Recommendations for Evaluation and Treatment of Common Gastrointestinal Problems in Children With ASDs [Click here to read the PDF article or read the article online here] provides health care providers guidelines in treating abdominal pain, chronic constipation, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. This report recognizes that the expression of gastrointestinal disease can be diverse in individuals with ASDs. It also concludes that unusual behaviors can be a result of gastrointestinal disorders.
TACA views these two reports as giant leaps forward for treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms that cause unnecessary pain to many individuals with autism and their families. This landmark paper will pave the way for pediatricians across the country to start treating children suffering through different gastrointestinal maladies. We sincerely hope this is the first step towards individuals with autism receiving the medical treatments they need and deserve.
Clinical Report
Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Scott M. Myers, MD, Chris Plauché Johnson, MD, MEd the Council on Children With Disabilities
Published online (Pediatrics, Official Journal of the AAP) October 29, 2007
Download the PDF article here.
or
The Pediatrician's Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Children (RE060018)
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
Technical Report: The Pediatrician's Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Children
Committee on Children With Disabilities
Published (Pediatrics, Official Journal of the AAP) May 2001.
Download the PDF article here.
or
